Sunday, August 24, 2014

August 23 (BBC News Ukraine) Sunday's
celebrations mark the 23rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence after the
Soviet Union collapsed. Ukraine is to mark its independence day with a military
parade in Kiev as fighting continues in the east. The parade will feature
hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Critics say that it is
inappropriate when Ukraine is at war. Pro-Russian rebels in the eastern city of
Donetsk - the scene of the heaviest fighting - say they will hold their own
parade featuring imprisoned soldiers. Four months of fighting in the east has
left more than 2,000 people dead. More than 330,000 people have fled their
homes.

A
prayer will be said and wreaths laid for those who have died for an independent
Ukraine, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev
last winter. Supporters say the parade should boost army morale but critics
have questioned any show of strength as a waste of money and inappropriate when
people are dying in the east. In Donetsk, rebels put on display two destroyed
armoured personnel carriers, and there are plans to parade prisoners of war through
the streets.

The military parades were rehearsed on Saturday

Sunday's
celebrations come a day after the German chancellor, Angela Merkel visited Kiev
and met President Petro Poroshenko. During crisis talks with Ukrainian
President Petro Poroshenko, she also called for "effective border
controls" while reiterating her support for Ukraine's pro-Western leaders.
The "territorial integrity and wellbeing of Ukraine" was essential,
Mrs Merkel said. She cautioned that Russia - already subjected to punishing EU
and US sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine - could face further
punitive measures. "We cannot rule out thinking about further sanctions if
things do not progress," Mrs Merkel told reporters. Mrs Merkel - who on
Saturday announced a 500m-euro (£400m) loan to Ukraine from Germany - is the
most influential.

Sunday's celebrations come a day after the German chancellor, Angela
Merkel visited Kiev and met President Petro Poroshenko

Russia has been accused by Nato of amassing troops and tanks near its
border with Ukraine